Jabari Smith Jr. Is Now Houston’s Problem as the Orlando Magic Draft Paolo Banchero, Thus Avoiding Adding Another No. 1 Overall Bust to Their Roster
In a stunning move, the Orlando Magic didnāt select Auburnās Jabari Smith Jr. with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, instead taking Dukeās Paolo Banchero. And while many would certainly disagree, make no mistake about it, it was the right call.
Sure, the 19-year-old would have been a solid addition to a young Orlando core that includes Cole Anthony, Wendell Carter Jr., and Franz Wagner, none of whom are older than 22. But despite what Jay Bilas tells you, Smith wasnāt a No. 1 overall-caliber pick.
Look, heāll have a nice career, just not the one some are expecting him to have. It certainly wonāt be as disappointing as the career of his distant cousin, Kwame Brown. Yes, thatās a real thing. And the second-team All-American wonāt be as disappointing as the No. 1 overall pick the Magic already have on their roster, Markelle Fultz.
But given what Iāve seen of him thus far, Smith will not be an NBA superstar. Sure, heās a talented guy. But these comparisons to Kevin Durant really need to stop. For one, nobody is like Kevin Durant. And secondly ā actually, thatās all I really need to say about that.
Yes, Smith can score. As an 18-year-old true freshman at Auburn this year, he averaged 16.9 points per game. And for a 6ā10ā guy, his jumper is strong, as evidenced by the fact he shot 42.0% from the three-point line. However, he shot just 43.5% from inside the arc against athletically inferior opponents.
Thatās simply not going to cut it against professional defenders. (Go ahead and take a moment here to make a joke about defense in the NBA.) But seriously, until he improves his ball-handling and his ability to get to the rim, heās going to struggle a bit as those jumpers he loves to take so frequently are going to be contested more than they were in the SEC.
Better player comparisons for Smith that arenāt Kevin Durant
CBS Sports calls Smith a ābetter-shooting Jabari Parker.ā Anyone know how Parkerās career is going at the moment?
Look, Jabari Smith Jr. is a talented guy with plenty of upside. But his passing and defense need work, as well. So while he may end up being a decent NBA player with a 10-year career, he aināt Kevin Durant, OK?
At this point, heās headed more toward the career of a Harrison Barnes or an Al Harrington. And thereās nothing wrong with that. But he wasnāt a No. 1 overall pick, and the Magic dodged a bullet here. Forgive the overplayed Apollo 13 reference here, but Smith is Houstonās problem now.
Look, maybe heāll prove me wrong. And if he does, Iāll be the first to admit my mistake on this guy. But right now, Iām just not sold on Smith as a full-fledged superstar. Maybe heāll flourish alongside John Wall. What, too soon?
Be thrilled, Magic fans. You donāt have to deal with that costly problem either.
Stats courtesy of Sports-Reference
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